Improvement in indicators



M. H. PIPER.

Indicators.

, Patented July 14, 1874.

N0.I52,9l6. i .7,

ronEPi e 7',

mlmeawew THE GRAPHIC CO PHOTD-LITHJQLI PARK PLACLNY.

UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE.

MYRON H. PIPER, OF VVALPOLE, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND SAMUEL N. PIPER, OFHYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN INDICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 152,916, dated July 14,1874; application filed February 27, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON H. PIPER, of Valpole, of the county of Norfolkand State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Indicators; and do hereby declare the same to be fully described inthe following specification and represented in the accompanyingdrawings.

It is the custom among the different express companies, at the presentday, to send messengers one or more times daily through the businessportion of the various cities where they are located, for the purpose ofcollecting express matter; and they are accustomed to call only at thoseplaces (unless an order for them to call has been left at the office)where some kind of a call or signal is shown, such being, in mostinstances, a card or a flag having upon it the name of the express, orsome mark or character which is known to the expressman. These cards andflags are a great source of annoyance, inasmuch as they are frequentlygetting mislaid, blown down, and often, when wanted, are not to befound.

To obviate the above-mentioned difficulties, and to provide a ready,convenient, and reliable express-call, is the object of my invention.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are vertical sections, and Fig. 3 ahorizontal section, of one way in which I arrange my invention. Fig. 4is a vertical section, and Fig. 5 a horizontal section, showing adifi'erent way of constructin g the signal-plate.

In each of the figures the case is shown at A, it having arranged in ittwo or other suit able number of partitions, a a, with spaces 1) b 1)between them and the sides of the case. In each space I) is arranged orpivoted, as shown at 0, one or more flat signals or plates, B, eachhaving upon its face or faces the name or character indicative of someone express.

It will be perceived that the various signals are so arranged, or havetheir pivots at different altitudes, that when any two or more of thesignals are out, or horizontal, neither shall overlap the other so as toobstruct the letters, words, or characters thereof from being readilySoon.

To the heel of each signal-plate B a line or rope, c, is fastened, andextended through one .of a series of eyes or guide-holes, f, in a board,

plate when in either of its extreme positions.

1 do not claim a signal apparatus as de scribed in Gambles Essay onSignals, published A. D. 1797, wherein several signal boards or arms arearranged on or around a common center, as the arrangement of thesignal-boards of my apparatus is very different therefrom; and,furthermore, each. signalboard has a stop, so arranged with and appliedto it as to arrest it when either in a horizontal or in a verticalposition; and, besides, my signal box or case is provided withpartitions, whereby the several signals are separated from one another,and each of said partitions is made to operate with the stop, to effectthe arresting of one or more of the signal-boards in either of itsextreme positions; therefore I claim The combination of the case A,provided with the partitions a and perforated board 9, arranged asdescribed, with the series of pivoted gravitating'plates orsignal-boards, provided with the stops hand cords c, all constructed andoperating in the manner and for the purpose specified.

MYRON H. PIPER.

YVitnesses L. N. MoLLER, J. R. Snow.

